Crypto Gifting Taxes in Canada 2026 – CRA Rules for Donors & Recipients

Giving crypto as a gift in Canada? The CRA treats gifts as dispositions – meaning you owe capital gains tax when you give away crypto, even for free.

CRA: Gifts Are Taxable Dispositions

Under Canadian tax law, gifting cryptocurrency is treated as a deemed disposition at fair market value. You are considered to have sold the crypto at its current FMV – and you must pay capital gains tax on any accrued gain, even though you received no money.

Example: You bought 1 BTC for $20,000 (CAD). You gift it when BTC is worth $80,000 CAD. You have a $60,000 capital gain to report – 50% (or 2/3 if over $250k) is included in your income.

Exception: Gifts Between Spouses

Gifts between spouses (or common-law partners) are subject to the attribution rules. The gift is transferred at your ACB (not FMV), deferring the gain. When your spouse eventually sells, the income or gain may be attributed back to you.

ACB for the Recipient

The person receiving a crypto gift gets a new cost basis equal to the fair market value at the time of the gift. Any future gain is calculated from that point.

Charitable Donations of Crypto

Donating cryptocurrency directly to a registered Canadian charity is highly tax-efficient:

• You receive a donation tax receipt for the full FMV of the donated crypto
• The capital gain on the donated crypto is exempt (0% inclusion rate for qualifying donations)
• This is much more tax-efficient than selling crypto and donating cash

The charity must be a registered Canadian charity (CRA-registered). Confirm they can accept crypto directly.

Gifts to Minor Children

The attribution rules apply to gifts to minor children – income and capital gains earned on gifted property are attributed back to the parent until the child turns 18.

Record-Keeping for Crypto Gifts

• Document the date of the gift and fair market value in CAD
• Record the transaction hash and wallet addresses
• Keep records for 6+ years after the gift year
• The recipient should document their new ACB immediately

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. For individual tax advice, consult a licensed tax professional.